Transmission system operators TenneT and TransnetBW have opted for plastic-insulated 525 kV underground cables since the high-tension cables can transmit more power. Contracts to deliver and lay the underground cables have been awarded to NKT GmbH & Co. KG and Prysmian PowerLink S.r.I. The combined value of the contracts is approx. EUR2 billion (US$2.25 billion).
The technical suitability and operational safety of the 525 kV cables were first tested during a multi-year testing phase involving several cable manufacturers. The cables were repeatedly exposed to various stresses under realistic conditions, and the success of these pre-qualification tests showed that this technology is both reliable and safe.
The two cable manufacturers will be responsible for all aspects of the work, including design, manufacture, logistics, and installation of the underground cables in the prepared channels and crossings, assembling the junction boxes and terminals, and the final high-voltage testing of the cable system.
